The Croswell Opera House opened its third show of the season, and it is very highly recommended that you attend.
Based on the movie, Bring it On is the cheerleading musical you never thought you needed but once you see it you realize you did. Like the movie, Campbell (an incredible Lydia Kirk) is redistricted from upper class Truman High to, well lets just say more urban Jackson High. Along the way, she not only has to deal with the backbiting and competition at her old school, but, gulp, her new school doesn’t even have a cheer squad!…Yet. What follows is funny, exciting, and ultimately feel good.
At times standard book musical, at others Cheer competition, the entire cast is made up of young folks, from high school to early 20’s. With a book by Jeff Whitty based on the screenplay and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (with additional music by Tom Kitt and Amanda Green), the storyline is easy to follow with terrific humor along the way, and a hip-hop score that, while not memorable, is perfect for the tone and energy of the show.
Croswell Opera House is at its best when everything clicks, and it is all gangbusters full cylinder here – Directing by Erin Pifer is fluid and keeps the large scenes moving smoothly, no small feat when sometimes featuring more than one cheer team on stage at the same time; Vocal Direction by Mandy Kruse is terrific, allowing rap to rap and fluid melody lines to clearly flow; Music Director Josh Glover conducts a great 7 piece orchestra that sounds three times it’s size (augmented by the original Broadway keyboard patches); award-winning Cheer Coach Kelly Bailey creates routines complete with pyramids, pop-ups, and basket tosses (limited only by the proscenium height); Choreographer Debra Ross Calabrese creates big spectacular numbers (just like she’s done in previous productions like Newsies and Kinky Boots); and Stage manager Tennessee Lawler has her hands full making it all mesh smoothly, and smoothly it does. Special kudos to lighting designer Jacob Wilson and projection designers Kylie Bushman (who is also in the show!), Beth Flumignan, and Crosby Slupe who make eye-popping visuals that flow over the edges of the stage itself into the house, making it one of the most colorful shows I’ve seen at the venue. Scenic Designer Doug Miller has created a sparse but highly functional set that reflects light beautifully, and costumer Jen Brown has done marvelous work with the street and cheer uniforms (and some mighty quick changes). Jen Pan’s intimacy/fight choreography makes everything zippy and safe.
Kids! Do not try this at home! What you don’t see on stage are the hours and hours and hours of training, especially for the pop ups and basket tosses (little known fact, I was a university cheerleader, and decades later my shoulders still hurt).
Lydia Kirk is a true triple-threat-plus-one as singer/dancer/actress and cheerleader! Her Campbell brings heart and drive to the show. She is matched step by step by Ziyaan Nurruddin as Danielle, at first her nemesis and later friend at Jackson High — not only in-tune with the urban hippness the role requires, her vocals are also phenomenal. Rachel Ogger is spot-on as friend Bridget, and she hides some moves and vocals of her own until needed later in the show. Back at Truman High Bryce Lang is perfect as (all about) Eve. Lily Gechter and Gabrielle Dunn are fun as uber-bitches Skylar and Kylar. And at Jackson, Talitha Thomas (Nautica) and Skye Rodriguez (La Cienega, named after the LA street!) ably fill out Danielle’s crew with talented singing, dancing, and solid laughs.
The lead guys are well represented by Payton Sharp, Derrick McCullough, Marreon Washington, and Bobby Lindsey. There’s a lot of talent on this stage, and wait til the guys let loose with their acrobatics in the second act. The cast is filled out by a very large ensemble of girls and guys. They sound great in their many numbers, and look great in uniform performing their routines.
And yes, that final champtionship is worth waiting for. The audience was fully cheering and rooting on the teams throughout, and by the climax you really don’t care who wins — will it be Truman High with their crisp clean uniforms and crisp clean cheer routine? Or will it be Jackson High with its less-than routine acrobatics and sky-high charisma? There is so much energy here the cast nearly blows off the roof, and the audience cheering nearly finishes the job.
Very Highest Recommendation – don’t miss this.
Bring it On the Musical continues at the Croswell Opera House, downtown Adrian, MI through July 20th. Get your tickets ONLY at croswell.org or by calling 517-264-7469. Do not be fooled by third party sites online, there are no licensed venders for the theatre other than their own site.
Mostly Musical Theatre 
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